Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The Kremlin-invented territory of “Novorossiya” seems to be a new point of contention.
Diplomatic language from Moscow is again raising questions about the scope of any future peace talks over Ukraine. Recent remarks from Russia’s top diplomat point to ambitions that go beyond previously discussed frameworks.
The comments come as speculation grows about renewed back-channel contacts involving senior US and Russian figures.
Expanding definitions
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on January 14 that any peace settlement would need to address the “issue of the fate of the people living in Crimea, Novorossiya, and Donbas.”
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the reference to Novorossiya is significant because the term is not a legally recognized region.
ISW notes that Novorossiya is a concept promoted by the Kremlin and framed by Russian officials as “integral” to Russia.
In official rhetoric, it extends well beyond Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions Moscow claims to have annexed.
Broader territorial scope
According to ISW, Russian definitions of Novorossiya also encompass Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts.
Kremlin officials have repeatedly described Odesa as a “Russian” city and have publicly discussed incorporating Novorossiya into the Russian Federation.
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This framing contrasts sharply with earlier diplomatic proposals discussed in Washington.
A US-backed 28-point peace plan would have allowed Russia to retain control over Crimea, all of Luhansk and Donetsk, and occupied parts of Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Diplomatic signaling
Under that proposal, Russia would have been required to withdraw from other occupied territories, including areas in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
ISW assesses that Lavrov’s remarks do not introduce new demands but reinforce that Moscow’s goals exceed those outlined in the 28-point plan.
The think tank suggests the statement may be intended to shape conditions ahead of a possible meeting involving US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, former presidential adviser Jared Kushner, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sources: Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
